$7 million shoplifting: Spree lands Chicago family behind bars

A judge ordered a wife detained along with her husband this afternoon on charges they shoplifted nationwide, saying he couldn’t release her for fear she would flee while awaiting trial. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Mason ordered Lela Bogdanov, 52, h...

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$7 million shoplifting spree landed a Chicago family in jail. A Yugoslavian husband, wife and one of their U.S.-born children are now behind bars. According to The Christian Science Monitor on Mar. 11, the three are being held pending trial.

Village of Skokie, Ill. 2012 booking photo

Branko Bogdanov, 58, and his wife, Lela Bogdanov, 52, allegedly operated in tandem with their daughter to pilfer merchandise and sell it on eBay.

The $7 million shoplifting spree took place over the course of a decade and spanned several states. The thieves hit Barnes and Noble and Toys R Us stores, who lodged the Federal complaint against them, in Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Maryland.

A U.S. Magristrate deemed the couple behind the $7 million shoplifting spree a flight risk. Both parents are in the country illegally and have previous records. The judge has made no determination yet concerning the daughter, Julia Bogdanov, 34. She will remain behind bars pending trial.

All three of the accused family members face interstate transportation of stolen property with a maximum 10-year prison term. The Bogdanovs claim that they are in debt, but Federal Prosecutor Renato Mariotti says that they own a $13 million house and 12 autos.

What do you think about the $7 million shoplifting story? Please drop in your comments below.

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